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Tag: Root

Silverwood Backed By Root Post Poor Ashes Display

Posted on by cbtfhome

Joe Root has come out to back Chris Silverwood post England’s poor performance in this year’s Ashes series after Australia beat the English side pretty easily in the first 3 matches of the Ashes. 

The English side just couldn’t get their batting line-up in form and in perfect balance as they crumbled up against a new and very dominant Australia.

“Yes I would,” Root said, when asked if he would like Silverwood to remain in charge. “It was a difficult week for the group of players with him not being around and it must have been very difficult for him.”

“But I think the performances we put in during the first three games, I feel we’ve let him and the coaches down to a degree. We’ve not played anywhere near the level we’re capable of. It’s a chance to do that this week.”

“I think he’s very calm, he has the respect of the guys and he’s got a desperation to see everyone do well or up-skill the players as best he can,” Root said. “He’s had a very difficult time of it with the environments we’ve been living in, trying to manage winning matches with bubble environments away from home, and multi-format players trying to prepare for an Ashes and a World Cup. It’s very difficult”

“For a long time we’ve not been able to put our best teams out because we’ve been constantly trying to make sure from a mental wellbeing point of view everyone is looked after properly, because of the schedule we’ve dealt with over two years.”

“Time is ticking but I have a lot to weigh up,” Root said. “Will it have a negative impact on me playing Test cricket? If I don’t think so then I will put myself in the auction. But I will never do anything that will detract from playing Test cricket for England. It’s so important to make sure that is the priority for me and other players as well.”

Stokes and Bairstow Likely to Miss Hobart Test

Posted on by cbtfhome

Ben Stokes and Johnny Bairstow, the English batsmen, suffered separate injuries during the fourth test match with Bairstow getting the ball hit straight on his thumb during batting and Stokes having issues in his sides.

The two red headed strongmen battled their respective injuries and saw the match to the end to get England a draw. However, their injuries will now be assessed as they look to make their way to Hobart for the fifth and final match of this absurd Ashes series in Australia.

Australia, who has dominated the series winning the first 3 matches to get the Ashes series and then almost winning the fourth match, have shown the quality of their players ranging from fixed players like Warner and Smith to returns like the centurion Usman Khawaja.

With Jos Butler also out with a broken thumb already and back in England, the team has limited choices left to replace the two integral parts of the team. 

“We’ve got to just see where they’re at, see what their bodies can handle and then assess from there,” Root said in Hobart on Wednesday.”

“I think they need to make sure they feel like they’re physically in a place where they can get through five days of hard cricket, whatever Australia throw at them, and they’re in a position where they can go out and play and firstly, get through the game, but also, most importantly put in a performance as they managed to last week as well. It’s alright being fit to play but you’ve got to be fit to perform and I think that’s what we’ve got to work out.”

“All you can do when you’re on the fringes, is work as hard as you can, and make sure you feel as ready as you can,” he said. “One thing about this tour and all tours really in these bubble environments, this Covid-19 world that we are currently living in, is there’s not always opportunities to go out and play and to have game time.”

“But as players, you’ve just got to manage that as best as you can. You’ve got to feel like you’re readying yourself, you’re putting yourself in those situations in practice as best as possible. So when you do get out there, you know, you’re as mentally ready as you possibly can be.”